Crocosmia Dilemma

I'm no expert, having dug all mine out as they were taking over, but I'm pretty sure you will be able to divide them. I started with a small clump like that and they spread by themselves, but I've found them to be very forgiving when manhandled. Hope you enjoy your lovely gift!

 

Oh yes Wiseowl......I would use a sharp serrated knife and aim for the obvious gap between the 2 mini clumps. Wont affect flowering at all. Then plant out and water well.
I regularly divide mine this way
Thus doubling the birthday pressie WO

 

Oh Verdun has just posted and disagrees. There is always more than 1 way to skin a cat as they say! Personally I'd tend to leave splitting the clump up until after the top growth has died back or next Spring. The top growth is quite brittle and easy to beak and you are bound to break roots if you split them now which will again make the top growth struggle. Crocosmia usually looks best in good sized clumps anyway rather than small sections dotted about. Take your pick Woo either way hope you enjoy your birthday present.

 

Silu, I do this all the time, viz., a knife straight down the middle at this time of year. Did it a month ago with liatris and the 2 clumps are flowering beautifully. Used to sell them, propagate them, etc
However, I agree we do things in different ways.....we gardeners especially
crocosmias are so robust.......they do not just make good sized clumps they make huge clumps, forever spreading and invading. I have them here at 2 metres across and 6' plus tall.

 

Yes me too, I have huge clumps @Verdun. i sold loads of Lucifer when I had my charity sale in the Spring and thought I didn't have a lot left....wrong! I still think it's great addition to any herbaceous border, I have the daintier yellow and orange varieties too. Personally I think they are worth growing just for the nice pleated foliage and just because they are prolific and easy that doesn't make them undesirable. That is a bonus as far as I'm concerned. Obviously with you in Cornwall and me in the frozen north (it's boiling hot atm!) there are some things which need to be treated differently. I seldom split stuff in the Autumn unless it's absolutely cast iron easy and tend to do most splitting transplanting in the Spring.

 

Agree totally silu...I too love the foliage as a great foil to other plants.

 

Wiseowl, you are an early riser!

 

He may have been out on the town all night

 

Hadn't thought about that!

 

I was up early too......went to the beach at 6.
Whatever you do your crocosmia will be fine Wiseowl ....enjoy your birthday plants

 

Beach at 6am! Lovely

I remember once going for a walk along a deserted beach on Tiree at 6am. A sea otter kept me company, swimming in line with me the entire length of the beach (long). It was a magical experience.